Mixing valve



vAllg- 26, 1952 H. D. AHLSTROM ETAL 2,608,350

MIXING VALVE Filed March 14, 1949 2 'SHEETS SHEET l Inventors Harvey D. A/r/srrom 92 Erma/d N. Fo/fz g- 1952 H. D. AHLSTROM EIAL MIXING VALVE Filed March 14, 1949 2' SHEETS-SHEET 2 M .7 4 w #5 Q 4 lV/wdflfl 7 m 7 L n w, m v I ,k m w M 2 l 6 2 x x r 7 M 8 w, w k 3 H M" a. w, w Q fi H fir. w I. 4 flwmww l1 1% M v H, Cw 4 W 6' I! I B 2 x Z? Q M 4 Patented Aug. 26, 1952 M XIN LV HdnyeygD. Amsmm anamrmalamrmltzs Minocqua, Wisa The present inventiom relates -to aa new {and usefulimprovement in valves and more particuslarly to" a mixing walve'assernbWwl'iich can be ad-- jus ted ifo r manual-or=thermostatie controli A =primary ODjGCt OfIthi-S invention to provide a" mixing-waive which may b'e "manually -*set-- for the thermostatic control Tot 'the temperature -ot water-flowing; therethrougli; the ter nperature of the water' being adjusted by rotating-the -operating handle of the mixing val-teg while this operating handlemay be nrovedaxiall'y*of its shait so that the thermostatic controlinearis-is inopera ti ye and rotation of the handl-will'then:controlthe temperature; ofitheliquid flowing fromwthe mixing valvecwithout" reference -to the' -thermo stati control-means.-

Another obj ect ofthis invention-de ta provide a zmixing, valve wherein easyaccess is providd to the =di f fer'ent "elementsofitlie mixirig valve;- thus facilitating 1 adjustment and repair ofi the' valye when necessary-a Yet 'anothenobjectlstd prov-ideamiXirig valve witha pair'of similar-individual valve-assemblies which are interchangeable-end eaa sil-y"u'eplace-= able in hot and cold liquid ixiletchambers with in themi'xing valve casingw- And'aJastobJect-tobe mentioned specifiealiyis tozprovlde a:mixing vaive assemblyyin which 'the iridividualelements-are each 'relatively-s'imple"and' inexpensiveto'manutacturatlre-miiting-valye-be ins :zsa-fe and lconvenient operate under '-vary-= mg conditions and generall's adapted *fo'r eflicient' and- --durab1e services; l l

' With these:objacts-definitely in viewithis. in

venti'on-resi'des m? certaimnovel features ot-con structio'n', combination and arrangements-on e1e=- ments xand' portions; sas- -wi11 be; hereinaiter" -'de"- scribed in" detailin thespeciflcatiom particularly" pointed out' inwtheappended-EcIaims, and i1l'us-'-* tnatedin-the aecompanying drawings which form aimaterial partof'cithis application; and in whicht Figure- 1 is"athree dimensional-tiew of the asw sembledimixingwalve Figurez is'awer-tical sectionalyiewy taken sub' stantia-ll-y upomthe section -1ine-2-,--2 11i '-Figurefl'i.

' Figure 4 193 jverti-cal sectional View taken 'sub stantially gomthe --:sectionline in Figure- 3 ;'j andfiv Figure 5 is athreenimensionaf viewtof onenr the above mentioned indiyidual yalve assemblies:

Similar charaetersyot referent: e' desig'nate simi lair or-identical elements-and portions throughout 'thespecification and throughout; the; several viewaimtheidrawmsss mixing valve includes a casing; having 5 inner:

walls! 2 and I 4 defining 1 a hot liquid inlet chainb'erf' I 6 and a cold liquid inlet chamber 8 oppoe sitelyand-laterally disposed l within the casing-' I O'fthese chambers being ordinarily connected-t0 a hot water inlet pipe-4 (land a cold -water"inlet* pipe 22. v

Individual valve assemblies Hand 26, of identi cal design;- each-comprise' a hollowe'longat'ed' member 2 8 having a slightly enlarged th'rea'ded' terminal 30' which is -screwed into an internally threaded portion provided inea'ch of thewrza'llsfil2 and-I4; so' that the individual valve assemblies will lextend longitudinally of thechamber l B' or-v l8" as the case may be: The -threadedi terminal 30 is centrally apertured' as indicated at. 32 and a ball 34 seats on the inner end of the threaded terminal'3fl so-as to close th eaperture 32 when the "ball is-moved into one "position by a 1 coiled spring- 36 compressed "between: the "ball and i the:

closed end of the elongated member 28 remote from' the aperture 32'. Stated otherwise the threaded terminal 30 includes awalve seat forthe ball valve 34; A plurality orapertures 38 are provided in 1 the side wal1s ot-themember 28- ad1- jacent to the-ball 34; certain of these aperturesi as indicated at 40', being spaced longitudinallyofii the members so that fluid en'terina said member 28 through the apertures 38 and 40'- will 'be di rectedonto 'porti'onsof the "ball 34 spaced diff'erently from different apertures "to cause a swirling flow and rotation of the ball thus preventing un'w lea-provided with :a iremovable's front :1 coverazpl'ate illpfacilitating access "to the interior-z of: the JOQSH irig; so :that assembly-Jot the'mixing valve 'iascwell asarepair-"and :adjustment thereof; iSifidSilYEEG- complished..z Ancactuating shaft152 carrying a? handle 54 is rotatably mounted "on the casing: =11) asindicatedat 56 and 58,-the latter reference nus: meral identifying f a centrally bored "boss "inte grally formed interiorly -'of the casing toa receive the innernendi'onthe actuatingshaitifli' The aoe tuating shaft has a pair of annular grooves 60 and 62 spaced longitudinally on the shaft and on the portion thereof within the bored boss 58, and if reference can now be had to Figure 4, it will be noted that a spring biased ball 64 is mounted in the side of the bar 58 so as to retain the actuating shaft '52 in either of two positions into which the same maybe manually shifted.

The rocker arm 66, having an enlarged terminal 68 adapted to engage the outer end of the pin 46 and another terminal portion adapted to engage the pin 41 when the actuating shaft and rocker arm assembly is in a raised position indicated in Figure 4, is rigidly secured to the ac tuating shaft 52 by a set screw 12. A lever 14 of a length substantially one half the length of the rocker arm 66 is pivoted on the rocker arm is indicated at I6. One end of the lever '14 has an enlarged terminal H and the other end 18 of the lever is bored and threaded to receive an adjusting screw 80 which engages the moving terminal 82 of a wafer thermostat 84 mounted centrally of the casing ln between the chambers I6 and [8, as by a threaded terminal 36, when the actuating shaft 52 is depressed and held in a position with the ball 64 engaging the annular groove 62, that is, when the device is adjusted for control by the thermostat 84. It will be noted that when the rocker arm assembly is depressed into this position the outer end portion of the terminal 68 of the rocker arm 66 and the terminal 11 of the lever M will be in engagement with the pins 46 and 41, respectively. In this connection, it may be noted that the lever 14 is spring biased into one position relative to the rocker arm 66 by a spring 88 U operatively associated with the pivot pin is and terminally looped over the lever and the rocker arm.

The mixing chamber 90, in which the wafer thermostat 84 is positioned, communicates with an outlet tube 92 formed integrally with the easing 10 and it should be carefully noted that the inner end of the outlet tube 92 is preferably located immediately beneath the thermostat M, as

indicated at 94.- A pair of similar baffles 96 are rigidly secured to flanges 98 on the walls l2 and M of the casing, by screws me, these baffles being positioned and dimensioned to direct flow of water from th individual valve apertures 32onto a central portion of the thermostat 84 so that a more sensitive control of the temperature of the:

water flowing throug ,hthe mixing valve is attained.'

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawings and with the above recited objects of this invention. Further' description would appear unnecessary. Minor variations of the embodiment'described may be resorted to within the spirit of this invention, the scope of which should be determined by fulcrum on said rocker, said lever having one end operatively connected to one of said valves when the shaft has been shifted axially into a second position, and temperature responsive actuating means operatively associated with the other end of said lever when the shaft is in said second position to the exclusive of the operative connection of said rocker arm with said one valve, said temperature responsive means being positioned to respond to changes-of temperature in liquid ad mitted to said casing through said valves, rotattive shifting of said shaft and rocker arm shifting the fulcrum of the lever relative to its points of operative contacts with said one of the valves and said temperature responsive means.

' 2. A mixing valve assembly comprising 2. casing having hot and cold liquid inlet chambers, a

valve in each inlet chamber, an operating shaft mounted in said casing for rotative and axial movement, a rocker arm rigidly fixed on said shaft for rocking motion about the shaft as axis for simultaneous and opposite operation of said:

valves when the shaft has been shiftedaxially into one position, a liquid outlet in said casing, a lever carried by said rocker arm and having its fulcrum on said rocker, said lever having on eend operatively connected to'one of said valves whento respond to changes of temperature in liquid admitted to said casing through said valves,'rotative shifting of said shaft and rocker arm shifting the fulcrum of the lever relative to its points of operative contact with said one of the valves and said temperature responsive means, said cas ing having a mixing chamber, said temperature responsive means comprising a wafer thermostat in said mixing chamber, and a baflie to direct said liquid entering said chamber onto a central por tion of said thermostat. i r

3. A mixing valve assembly comprisingacasing;

having hot and cold liquid inlet chambers, a valve in each inlet chamber, an operating-shaftmounted n said casing for rotative andaxial movement,

a rocker arm rigidly fixed on saidshaft for ,rockei ing motion about the shaftas axis for simultane-.I

ous and opposite operation of 'saidrvalvesrwhen':

the shaft has been shifted axially'into' one pOsi-. tion,'a liquid outlet in said casing;;a lever having its fulcrumon-said rocker arm and oneend operatively-connected to one of said valveswhen the shaft has been shifted axially intoa second -p OSl'.- tion, and temperature responsiveactuating means operatively associated with said other end of said lever when the shaft is in said second position to. theexclusionof the operative connection of said rocker arm with said one valve, said temperature responsive means being positioned to respondrto changes of temperature in liquid admitted to said casing through said valves, rotative shifting: of; said shaft andrro'cker arm shifting the fulcrum of the lever relative to its points of operative contact with said one of the valves and said tempera: ture responsive means, said fulcrum comprisinga pivot pin, and the axes of said pivot pin and said shaft being parallel. l

, 4. A mixing valve assembly comprising a'casing having hot and cold; liquidinlet chamberspavalve' in ach inlet chamben-an operating shaft mounti l ed in said casing for rotative andaxial-movement;

a rocker arm rigidly fixed on said shaft for rocking motion about the shaft as axis for simultaneous and opposite operation of said valves when the shaft has been shifted axially into one position, a liquid outlet in said casing, a lever having its fulcrum on said rocker arm and one end operatively connected to one of said valves when the shaft has been shifted axially into a second position, a temperature responsive actuating means operatively associated with the other end of said lever when the shaft is in said second position to the exclusion of the operative connection of said rocker arm with said one valve, said temperature responsive means being positioned to respond to changes of temperature in liquid admitted to said casing through said valves, rotative shifting of said shaft and rocker arm shifting the fulcrum of the lever relative to its points of operative contact with said one of the valves and said temperature responsive means, said valves each comprising a hollow elongated member with apertures in the side walls thereof and having one end closed, a valve seat in the other end of the member, a ball valve on said seat, a spring compressed between said closed end and said ball valve, and an actuating pin for said ball valve extending through said seat and axially shiftably mounted so that one end of the pin is engaged by said one end of the lever, in the case of one of said valves, and by said rocker arm in the case of the other valve, the other end of the pin engaging the corresponding ball valve.

HARVEY D. AHLSTROM.

ERMALD N. FOLTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,024,729 Lawler Apr. 30, 1912 1,083,015 Holzhausen Dec. 30, 1913 1,183,599 Sparks May 16, 1916 1,574,537 Burch Feb. 23, 1926 1,787,215 Sinclair Dec. 30, 1930 2,417,158 Fraser Mar. 11, 1947 2,430,133 Mufily Nov. 4, 1947 

